Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-05

A Knot of Ga@ccs at Show Wi. dow
Just for Fuu"-Looiing Intentiy Into
Sewer Ridiculous I;esuIts-Euinln
Weakness.
Queer it is that human beings, like
sheep, often bear out the saying OF ''l'oI-
low the leader This thought came to
me few days since while watching Il test
made by friend of mine. Happening to
meet young man whom had not seen
in long while, l stopped to greet him
and indulge in q short conversation.
While we were talking a man walked up
to a show window near by, and in mo-
ment Was joined by several others. In
short time the entire window was sur
rounded by anxious gazers, and as there
was nothing out Of common Oh exhibition,
both myself and my friend were amused
at the action Of the crowd.
Turning to NE my friend said: cit does
seem odd that people can be attracted SO
easily, but | assure you that ] can give
you even better illustration than the
one we have just witnessed. There is
nothing at all the matter with the sewer
inlet over at the corner, yet il / 80 over
and look into it intently Il viii be only a
little while before ! attract a crowd. Now,
just for the fun CT the thing I'm going
over and look into it, and want you to
stand here and watch the people Ac-
cordingly he walked over TO the opposite
corner, and standing IL the street bent
down and looked into the sewer. Scarcely
had he fixed his gaze on The inside when
q small boy who was passing stopped and
looked around and then stepped out into
the street and also looked into the inlet.
a street car stopped at the corner to let
of several passengers, and two Of them
walked up TO the inlet to look in. In less
than one minute BY actual count ten per-
sons were looking into the place, and in
two minutes the crowd had increased to
twenty-five people. Ia three minutes the
crowd was doubled, and after five min
utes' actual time the entire corner WAS
crowded with a pushing mass CT human
ity, all eager to look down the sewer and
ali asking questions.
During this time my friend had not Ut
tered q word, but had continued TO gaze
steadily into the inlet Us though he had
dropped something down into its dark in
terror. Then | walked across the street.
10 raingle with the crowd and catch any
observations THAI might be T42Ge. \ tail,
sad looking man tapped me Ga the shCul-
der AID asked NE what the trouble was
all about. l replied that / didn't l-now,
but scarcely had ] uttered the words
when short, fussy individual, who had
just joined the crowd, kindly spoke up
and informed ray sad looking inquirer
that there was y child in the sewer This
Information quickly spread and many eX-
carnations OF Ply and sympathy were
heard Oh eli sides. Then some one con-
tr~Gicted the ruElOr and said it was n val
liable dog TINT had fallen into the sewer.
This was promptly denied by a heavily
built man, in his shirt sleeves, who
was sure he had heard the baby's voice,
but that it must be drowned by this time,
because il WIS SO quiet. Right here some
one else took up the conversation and
went on TO describe how careless the
mother Of child must be to allow it TO
get away from her and nun the risk Of
moetinZ with such d hCrriole death In
the meant lie u reserve officer made his
,.t5,..ur2 ICE All asked the cause Of all the
1r'spte AveIv knowing young man took
.a- 1.l4ce.raa lsiC. and explained to him
." ere C.uwd was al wrong. Then be
Ven uu 10 1 to oil Ger that the man at
t.. ser .ai been counting Il roll Of bills
aAa nd eso;1crtsliy droHred bill Of
large 5sualifus..g Cd INTO tie sewer end was
agU la4sl.e lu.-.l 10 sc if Ie could Get
.,..s..r5. ni IT,
1.su c.l ts-6:,- iBrs.',,e low ridiculous
H-.ss ~ 41uIaa5 L. ize. ara what an Ct
Io.., +. REQUIRED G. -ug -srt 10 keep fror,
i,..ell,g aloud. r..r.a-e ed to restrain
I.yss., however, "a. liked nv way ont
IT the crow and TOOK up position on
TIE Gourst-, a. 4 =.l1a mar bv. Tie
crowd I.sallgaiLa be-. grown TO On i'm
pttn-n size. ara several cars were blocked
pv -.,. aaof.. ssalyl.L- .r ...., .f,... ;crcss
,,sa ,-t.G 'uran rte criea-. .r,t- 10 sc;
lj.e crowd % ~tua,.., ard ;..t..r. ne c,.,.
Il. pass, La. ~ Is .a.,vsl!v liz. csc. Tho
CROWD Gu ~u.hsl al tt.yI.I, AID sore If
lie Lore ~. ..s5,nue bows tried to ciirYb
onto lie oastei al TIE car - obtain =
god view ctr ia. l-a,- # the nelson's
4. front e. .te.- Tlua came q rceulri
scream oI ,..es rs la.l the croyv,i
zCcL = ..E, ua. ) tie Iatter!" "U0v
ds., i, app. - W.o's lmt:'' s.N-Eat'.
!3Sl?r 'Str-acLy rsj 1t:'' "I,v
did lie SCI Ia cy..T'' .V,hnt is If
harm or a \ eZluL. "WLy don't FL.
crowd keep back ana give him some air,r /
to which the following were some Of
the answers: Don't know "Ciyc II
NJ" Can't get near to flrd oI7t - ~
don't know, do ven think I'm n 5.ctior-
ary?'' and many other answers th3+ !
have now forcotten. The Policeman III.
his best 10 Glspcrse the crowd or ~ lc.s,
keep them back. but Ae was roverirss
He threatened few Of them with aryesi
but he didn't look very stern 50 III,
risked his anger Finding that he could |
make no impression upon them, he wisely /
withdrew ard allowed them to use their /
own pleasure about going. lie succeeded /